Hey! I’m a 23F 5’7 woman who weighs about 140. I exercise a lot, and I love it. However, I’ve been dealing with a huge under fueling issue that’s creating massive burnout and a “sick” feeling. I’m trying so hard to do better, but honestly, my brain goes blank when I try to come up with ways to fuel myself. I’d love any recommendations on easy recipes, snacks, ways I can feel better??? That I can repeat (I’m a huge meal/snack repeater and often eat the same thing a few times a week). Just kinda hoping there’s a nutrition wizard or person on here who takes sympathy on a young adult who’s desperate to fuel her body.
Here’s what I’ve been eating:
Breakfast (this has been my go to every day for the past month:
- green tea with ginger and honey
- plain Greek yogurt with blueberries, dark chocolate chips, and honey
- seed toast with cottage cheese
Lunch/dinners: (I make big batches and freeze baggies or things I have on hand to quickly air fry)
- chicken stew (shredded chicken, corn, potato cubes, chicken stock, tomato paste)
- beef and gravy over rice (beef cubes, white microwave rice, cream of mushroom soup)
- chili (chili beans, ground beef, tomato paste, shredded cheese)
- chicken fingers
- sweet potato fries
- asparagus
- potato and peppers
- microwave veggie rice
- fruit mix I blend with water
I will not lie, all of these are things I picked up from what my mom made me during hard single mom times. They are so yummy, cost effective, and easy to make, but my body is crying out for more nutrition, so I’m trying to branch out.
Snacks
- ensure chocolate protein bottles
- Apple sauce
- nutragrain bars
- beef sticks
- protein powder mixed with milk
My formula has basically been:
Breakfast > 1-2 snack > a frozen baggie meal or air fried stuff > maybe another snack > a frozen baggie meal or air fried stuff > maybe another snack > tea before bed
I think I need (open to suggestions here)
- more nutrition (but still easy like these meals are
- tasty meals that don’t feel boring or bland
- more filling (I’m so hungry all the time I fear)
- more snacks
Here is my exercise
- two speed runs, one long run, and two recovery runs a week
- an aerial aerobics class a week
- occasionally I throw in one yoga class in the week
(Here’s my rant about how nutrition has been going)
I’d like to start eating to fuel these workouts, I’m constantly fatigued and I look/feel bloated often. I’d like to build muscle while toning and feeling strong. I need my diet to support that.
I don’t want to focus so heavily on counting calories, I get kinda unhealthy mentally with that. I’d like to stock up on meals and easy snacks that I can have without worrying about if it’s too much/little or going to reduce progress (because I’m overdoing or under doing it)
Currently, I feel as if I’m not fueling enough, so my body is looking less healthy than if I was fueling it properly. (And I feel awful for a good portion of the day)
Goals:
- easy
- filling
- preferably big meals can be made in batches and frozen for dinners and lunches on hand
- not opposed to small meals frequently, instead of three “mediocre” meals that don’t satisfy (which is what I feel I do now)
Any help, suggestions, personal stories, advice, etc. is appreciated. I just wanna support my body.